Dr. Tarn, Woan-Yuh 's publons link picture

Dr. Tarn, Woan-Yuh

Distinguished Research Fellow
  • 02-27899015 (Lab) (Room No: N223)
  • 02-26523052
  • 02-27829142 (Fax)

Specialty:

 

  1. mRNA splicing in neuron
  2. translational control in cancer
  3. long non-coding RNA

Education and Positions:
  • Ph.D. National Tsing Hua University
    Postdoc Assoc. Yale University


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RBM4 modulates radial migration via alternative splicing of Dab1 during cortex development

Dr. Tarn, Woan-Yuh
Molecular and cellular biology, Mar 26, 2018

The RNA-binding motif 4 (RBM4) protein participates in cell differentiation via its role in regulating the expression of or tissue-specific or developmentally regulated mRNA splice isoforms. RBM4 is expressed in embryonic brain during development; it is initially enriched in the ventricular zone/subventricular zone and subsequently distributed throughout the cortical cortex. Rbm4a knockout brain exhibited delayed migration of late-born neurons. Using in utero electroporation, we confirmed that knockdown of RBM4 impaired cortical neuronal migration. RNA immunoprecipitation-sequencing identified Disabled-1 (Dab1), which encodes a critical Reelin signaling adaptor, as a potential target of RBM4. Rbm4a knockout embryonic brain showed altered Dab1 isoform ratios. Overexpression of RBM4 promoted the inclusion of Dab1 exons 7 and 8 (7/8), whereas its antagonist PTBP1 acted in an opposite manner. RBM4 directly counteracted the effect of PTBP1 on exon 7/8 selection. Finally, we showed that the full-length Dab1, but not exon 7/8-truncated Dab1, rescued neuronal migration defects in RBM4-depleted neurons, indicating that RBM4 plays a role in neuronal migration via modulating the expression of Dab1 splice isoforms. Our findings imply that RBM4 is necessary during brain development and that its deficiency may lead to developmental brain abnormality.